Lahore court extends physical remand of six NCCIA officials in bribery case

A local court extended on Friday the physical remand of six officials of the National Counter Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in a case registered against them for taking huge bribes and misuse of power.

The Federal Investigation Agency was directed to produce the accused before the court on November 3.

The case against them was registered on the complaint of Aroob Jatoi, wife of Saadur Rehman popularly known as Ducky Bhai.

The FIA presented the accused before Judicial Magistrate Naeem Wattoo's court in handcuffs, after the expiry of their earlier three-day physical remand. The arrested officers include Additional Director Chaudhry Sarfraz, Assistant Director Shoaib Riaz, Ali Raza, Zawar, Yasir Gujjar and others.

The FIA submitted its investigation report, stating that roughly Rs42.5 million has been recovered from the accused officials. 

Read: Ducky Bhai bribery case: NCCIA officials remanded for three days

Defense counsel advocate Munir Bhatti argued that the FIA does not possess evidence of a single transaction, and alleged that the case was being unnecessarily sensationalized on social media, making a fair trial impossible.

He further contended that when a case becomes the subject of notices from the prime minister, chief minister, chief justice of Pakistan and Punjab IGP an impartial trial cannot be expected.

Meanwhile, the investigating officer informed the court that a separate inquiry into assets beyond known means has also been initiated against the accused.

He stated that the officers are "highly trained" and therefore the interrogation is complex, as the FIA is examining their previous cases and details of their assets.

After hearing the arguments, the court approved a further three-day physical remand and instructed the FIA to present the accused again on November 3.